Position Paper on the Feasibility
Advancement in technology has become widely spread all over the globe. Implementation of utilization of technology in everyday life applications is increasing at a high rate. Technology has been seen to improve the quality of life of the elderly people. In addition to that, it is evident that technology enhances, the safety, independence as well as the security of the elderly people. It has been noted that the technologies involved in the limitations that people face in their old age has, for a long time not drawn the interest it deserves.
The main aim of this paper is to give the position and review the feasibility of expanding Gero technology Services in relation to the needs of the elderly under home based care. The paper will consider the importance of inculcating technology as a fundamental part of home-based healthcare services that are offered to the elderly, while forecasting its position in future in the healthcare field. The paper will review research that has been conducted in relation to the relation between technology and aging. It will also give an insight into the take of professionals on the subject of technology linking with healthcare monitoring and disease prediction.
Introduction
The adoption and inclusion of technology in home based care for the elderly has taken center stage in today’s world of healthcare. It is taunted as the future of healthcare as it offers a solution to management of the health of the elderly. Research has shown that the health care provision can be efficiently provided in the comfort of the patients own home. Additionally, the patient may be monitored by their own relatives, a convenient mode in which both the patient and the family reduce the magnanimous hospitalization bills that would have otherwise been incurred. This essay will give several reasons as to why the implementation technology to aid healthcare provision among the aged and present a clear picture as to why it is the future of healthcare provision.
Improvement of the quality of life
Assistive technology to aid the aged people in the society plays a significant role in enhancing their life. For instance, the use of a remote control for the switches within the house, having a 24-hour system that monitors the activities of the elderly while alone and also devices such as an electronic map that can help in directions. These devices help the elderly to perform basic tasks such as switching off lights as well as moving from one place to another without many problems (Mihailidis, Boger, Kautz & Normie, 2008). Such technology enhances the quality of life that the elderly have as it reduces the stress and strain that is involved in performing these tasks.
Cost benefits
There are numerous costs that are related to healthcare provision among the elderly. To begin with, the hospitalization costs are usually too large that they cause a financial burden to the elderly as well as the family of the individual. Geron Technology services offer technological devices that can be conveniently included within the household to ensure that the elderly are taken care of at the comfort of their homes. This is done through “Remote Patient Monitoring,” where devices that can communicate important information about the patient are included in the patient’s house. Devices such as weight scales, assessment algorithms as well as blood pressure sensors and monitors can be installed. These can then send the collected information to a health professional assigned to the patient and an analysis on the patient’s condition made.
Convenience to relatives
Using technology to aid the elderly in their daily lives provides a convenience to the family members who are supposed to be in charge of the elderly individual who needs constant care. The family members are also engaged in their own activities and they may not have the time to give the necessary care to the patient. Including this technology will ensure that the basic requirements of the patients are met. For instance, such technology may be utilized to remind the patient to take their medication, how the medication is to be taken, and in what quantity the medication should be taken. These technologies could be used in remotely training while supervising the patient. The exercises that the elderly individual takes part in require constant and careful monitoring throughout the time period of the training (Health, U. S. C. H. S. C. o. A. S. o., & Care, L.-T.1984).. These technologies monitor the essentials of the patient and the changes that may have occurred. For instance, they can measure the heart rate, blood pressure level and other vital signs of the patient.
Connectivity to professional caregivers
Technological communication devices such as high definition cameras and the internet can be used to transmit information from the patient to a health professional assigned to the patient. The healthcare professional can learn a lot about the patient at an instant and make diagnosis and further recommendations. Additionally, they can compare and seek advice from other healthcare professionals by querying them via the communication system. This is advantageous in the sense that the patients can get to even choose the healthcare professional they feel most comfortable with.
Recommendations
First, inclusion of the technological devices in the homes of the elderly should be made available and affordable to them. This will ensure they are constantly monitored and any defects detected early in order to put them in check.
The government should also put in place mechanisms that will ensure the promotion of the development of this field. This can be done by placing more resources dedicated towards the research and designing of these devices.
Individuals who have elderly people depending on them can be advised to implement the use of technological devices to modify the house of the elderly persons under their care. Additionally, they can encourage the elderly to join the social networks and engage themselves with other people to avoid being lonely or feeling depressed.
REFERENCES
Health, U. S. C. H. S. C. o. A. S. o., & Care, L.-T. (1984). Technology and the aging: rationalizing or rationing : hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care of the Select Committee on Aging, House of Representatives, Ninety-eighth Congress, second session, March 15, 1984: U.S. G.P.O.
Mihailidis, A., Boger, J., Kautz, H., & Normie, L. (2008). Technology and Aging: Selected Papers from the 2007 International Conference on Technology and Aging: IOS Press.
